Chinese aviation delegation to fly into Scotland
Senior government and industry representatives to explore direct route options
A senior Chinese aviation industry delegation will travel to Scotland in early 2012 to examine direct air routes into the country, the First Minister has announced during his visit to China.
Alex Salmond met senior executives of China's Civil Aviation Authority and senior airline representatives in Beijing yesterday, where they discussed the potential for a direct air route between Scotland and China – and what would be the only such link outside Heathrow.
The meeting is one of a series of government and industry engagements being undertaken by the First Minister and Anne MacColl, CEO of Scottish Development International, this week in Beijing, Shandong, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
The First Minister said: "As part of our strategy to support economic growth, the Scottish Government is determined to improve our international air connections - to help boost trade and tourism with key global markets such as China. We are now working closely with the Chinese Government to establish a direct air link between our two nations and I discussed this in my meeting with senior Chinese airline and Aviation Authority executives.
"A high-level industry team in China has now been established to examine the detailed business case and to work with Scottish Government officials and our agencies. I am very pleased that they will be coming to Scotland early in 2012 to continue this work, to see our infrastructure and to take forward these plans, which can deliver a great boost to Scottish tourism and to our wider business community."
Scottish Development International chief executive Anne MacColl added: "Scottish Development International is working to ensure that more Scottish companies can take advantage of trade and investment opportunities in China, while at the same time trying to attract more Chinese companies to base their European operations here. A direct air route would be a significant enabler of both these goals and we welcome the opportunity to discuss the benefits of this further with the Chinese aviation delegation."
Background:
The Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International and VisitScotland are working together to improve Scotland’s international air connections.
Photographs from the First Minister's engagements in China, are available at: www.flickr.com/scottishgovernment
Contact: Russell Fallis on 0131 244 3054 or 07920 595435.